Written by

Sgt. Eric Provost
U.S. Army

A platoon of U.S. soldiers from Fort Polk's 4th Brigade Combat Team, 10th Mountain Division did something recently for many U.S. troops stationed in Afghanistan, has become a rare occurrence: They went on patrol.

The platoon from Company C, 2nd Battalion, 30th Infantry Regiment, left their home at Forward Operating Base Torkham for a Nov. 18 mid-afternoon, dismounted patrol over mountains to an Afghan Border Police checkpoint a couple kilometers away near the village of Goloco.

"The purpose was to gain situational awareness, know what's between us and the Goloco village, engage with the ...